Senate of Chile explained
| Senate of the Republic of Chile |
| Native Name: | Senado de la República de Chile |
| Coa Pic: | Emblema Senado de la Republica Chile.png |
| Coa Caption: | Seal |
| Session Room: | Senado de Chile.jpg |
| House Type: | Upper House |
| Body: | National Congress of Chile |
| Term Limits: | None |
| Election1: | 19 March 2024 |
| Leader2 Type: | Vice-President |
| Election2: | 19 March 2024 |
| Leader3 Type: | General Secretary |
| Leader3: | Raúl Guzmán Uribe |
| Election3: | 16 April 2021 |
| Members: | 50 |
| Political Groups1: | Government (18)
External support (5)
Opposition (27)
|
| Term Length: | 8 years |
| Structure1: | Senadores Chile.svg |
| Structure1 Res: | 250px |
| Next Election1: | 2025 |
| Website: | http://www.senado.cl |
The Senate of the Republic of Chile is the upper house of Chile's bicameral National Congress, as established in the current Constitution of Chile.
Composition
According to the present Constitution of Chile, the Senate is composed of forty-three directly elected senators, chosen by universal popular suffrage vote in 16 senatorial circumscriptions. These serve eight-year terms, with half of them being replaced every fourth year. They must be eligible to vote, have completed secondary school, or its equivalent, and be at least 35 years old.
The Senate meets at the new National Congress building located in the port city of Valparaíso that replaced the old National Congress building located in downtown Santiago, the nation's capital.
Abolition of the unelected
Amendments to the Constitution, approved by a joint session of Congress on August 16, 2005, eliminated non-directly elected senators from March 11, 2006, the day 20 newly elected senators were sworn in, leaving the total number of senators at 38, all directly elected. Previously, according to the Constitution of 1980, "designated" or "institutional" senators were appointed to the chamber. Two former heads of state, Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle and Augusto Pinochet, were installed as senators for life. Pinochet later resigned from this position and Frei lost his seat in the 2005 reform. However, Frei remained in the Senate by winning an elective seat.
Historical evolution
The Senate of Chile was created in 1812 to support the formulations of policies of the Government Junta. Since then it has undergone several constitutional reorganizations that have altered the scope of its constitutional powers, its composition and the generation of its members.
First senate
Created by Article 7 of the Provisional Constitutional Manual of 1812. It was composed of seven titular members (one for each province) and three alternate members and was supposed to serve as a counterbalance to the executive power of the Government Junta. The senators were directly nominated by the provinces in agreement with the central government. It functioned from November, 1812 to January, 1814, when it was reorganized to better respond to the problems caused by the successive military defeats at the hands of the advancing Spanish Army.
Consultative senate
Created by Article 13 of the Provisional Government Manual of 1814. As its predecessor, it was composed of seven titular members (only) nominated by the provinces in lists of three from which they were selected by the Supreme Director. It functioned from March to July, 1814, when the Spanish Army captured Santiago, putting an end to the Patria Vieja government.
First conservative senate
Created by Title III of the Constitution of 1818. It was composed of five titular members and five alternate members selected directly by the Supreme Director. It was supposed to function only when the lower house was not in function or could not meet, and had the power to enact "provisory rules" that had the same effect as laws (hence the "conservative" moniker, because it "conserved" the power.) It functioned from October, 1818 to May, 1822.
Current composition Senate of Chile
| | Senator | Name | Political Group | Party | Prior Public Office/Position | Education | Assumed Office | Term Expires |
|---|
| I | | | | Democratic Socialism | | | | March 11, 2018 | March 11, 2026 |
| I | | | | | | Intendant of the Arica y Parinacota Region during Sebastián Piñera's presidency | | March 11, 2018 | March 11, 2026 |
| II | | | | Democratic Socialism | | Mayor of Iquique | | March 11, 2018 | March 11, 2026 |
| II | | | | | | Intendant of the Tarapacá Region during Sebastián Piñera's presidency | | March 11, 2018 | March 11, 2026 |
| III | | | | Democratic Socialism | | Deputy of former District 4 | | March 11, 2014 | March 11, 2030 |
| III | Antofagasta | | Esteban Velásquez | Constituent Unity | FREVS | Deputy of District 3 (Antofagasta Region) | University of Tarapacá | March 11, 2022 | March 11, 2030 |
| III | Antofagasta | | Paulina Núñez | Chile Vamos | RN | Deputy of District 3 (Antofagasta Region) | Catholic University of the North | March 11, 2022 | March 11, 2030 |
| IV | | | | Out of pact | | Deputy of former District 6 | | March 11, 2018 | March 11, 2026 |
| IV | | | | | | Intendant of the Atacama Region during Sebastián Piñera's presidency | | March 11, 2018 | March 11, 2026 |
| V | | | Daniel Núñez | Apruebo Dignidad | PC | Deputy of District 5 (Coquimbo Region) | University of Chile | March 11, 2022 | March 11, 2030 |
| V | | | Matías Walker | Out of pact | Democrats | Deputy of District 5 (Coquimbo Region) | Diego Portales UniversityUniversity for Development | March 11, 2022 | March 11, 2030 |
| V | Coquimbo | | Sergio Gahona | Chile Vamos | UDI | Deputy of District 5 (Coquimbo Region) | Diego Portales UniversityCatholic University of the North | March 11, 2022 | March 11, 2030 |
| VI | Valparaíso | | Francisco Chahuán | Chile Vamos | RN | Deputy of former District 14 | University of Valparaíso | March 11, 2010 | March 11, 2026 |
| VI | Valparaíso | | Kenneth Pugh Olavarría | Chile Vamos | RN | General Director of the Personnel of the Chilean Navy | Arturo Prat Naval School, Valparaíso | March 11, 2018 | March 11, 2026 |
| VI | Valparaíso | | Ricardo Lagos Weber | Democratic Socialism | PPD | Minister Secretary General of Government during Michelle Bachelet's presidency | University of Chile
University of Sussex | March 11, 2010 | March 11, 2026 |
| VI | Valparaíso | | Isabel Allende | Democratic Socialism | PS | Senator for Constituency 3 | University of Chile | March 11, 2018 | March 11, 2026 |
| VI | Valparaíso | | Juan Ignacio Latorre | Apruebo Dignidad | RD | No previous public office | Central University of Chile | March 11, 2018 | March 11, 2026 |
| VII | Santiago Metropolitan | | Manuel José Ossandón | Chile Vamos | RN | Mayor of Puente Alto | Inacap | March 11, 2014 | March 11, 2030 |
| VII | Santiago Metropolitan | | Luciano Cruz-Coke | Chile Vamos | Evópoli | Deputy of District 10 (Santiago Centre) | Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute | March 11, 2022 | March 11, 2030 |
| VII | Santiago Metropolitan | | Claudia Pascual | Apruebo Dignidad | PC | Minister of Women and Gender Equality during Michelle Bachelet's presidency | University of Chile | March 11, 2022 | March 11, 2030 |
| VII | Santiago Metropolitan | | Fabiola Campillai | Apruebo Dignidad | Independent | No previous public office | Fidel Pinochet Le-brun High School, San BernardoManuel Barros Borgoño High School, Santiago | March 11, 2022 | March 11, 2030 |
| VII | Santiago Metropolitan | | Rojo Edwards | Out of pact | PSC | Deputy of former District 51 | Pontifical Catholic University of ChileHarvard Kennedy School | March 11, 2022 | March 11, 2030 |
| VIII | O'Higgins | | Alejandra Sepúlveda | Apruebo Dignidad | Independent | Deputy of District 16 (Colchagua Province) | Austral University of Chile | March 11, 2022 | March 11, 2030 |
| VIII | O'Higgins | | Javier Macaya | Chile Vamos | UDI | Deputy of District 15 (Cachapoal Province) | Pontifical Catholic University of ChileUniversity of ValparaísoAdolfo Ibáñez University | March 11, 2022 | March 11, 2030 |
| VIII | O'Higgins | | Juan Luis Castro | Democratic Socialism | PS | Deputy of District 15 (Cachapoal Province) | University of Chile | March 11, 2022 | March 11, 2030 |
| IX | Maule | | Juan Castro Prieto | Chile Vamos | PSC | Mayor of Talca | Industrial A-10 High School, Talca | March 11, 2018 | March 11, 2026 |
| IX | Maule | | Rodrigo Galilea | Chile Vamos | RN | Intendant of the Maule Region during Sebastián Piñera's presidency | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile | March 11, 2018 | March 11, 2026 |
| IX | Maule | | Juan Antonio Coloma Correa | Chile Vamos | UDI | Deputy of former District 31 | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile | March 11, 2002 | March 11, 2026 |
| IX | Maule | | Ximena Rincón | Out of pact | Democrats | Minister of Labor and Social Provision during Michelle Bachelet's presidency | University of Chile | March 11, 2018 | March 11, 2026 |
| IX | Maule | | Paulina Vodanovic | Democratic Socialism | PS | Subsecretary for the Armed Forces during Michelle Bachelet's presidency | University of Chile | April 25, 2023 | March 11, 2026 |
| X | Biobío | | Sebastián Keitel | Chile Vamos | Evópoli | Deputy of District 9 (Santiago North) | Silva Henríquez Catholic University | March 11, 2022 | March 11, 2030 |
| X | Biobío | | | Chile Vamos | UDI | Deputy of District 20 (Concepción Province) | University for Development | March 11, 2022 | March 11, 2030 |
| X | Biobío | | Gastón Saavedra | Democratic Socialism | PS | Deputy of District 20 (Concepción Province) | Federico Santa María Technical University | March 11, 2022 | March 11, 2030 |
| XVI | Ñuble | | Loreto Carvajal | Democratic Socialism | PPD | Deputy of District 19 (Ñuble Region) | Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception | March 3, 2021 | March 11, 2030 |
| XVI | Ñuble | | Gustavo Sanhueza | Chile Vamos | UDI | Deputy of District 19 (Ñuble Region) | University of the Bío Bío | March 11, 2022 | March 11, 2030 |
| XI | Araucanía | | Felipe Kast | Chile Vamos | Evópoli | Deputy of former District 22 (Santiago commune) | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
Harvard University | March 11, 2018 | March 11, 2026 |
| XI | Araucanía | | Carmen Gloria Aravena | Out of pact | PLR | Traiguén municipal administrator | University of La Frontera | March 11, 2018 | March 11, 2026 |
| XI | Araucanía | | José García Ruminot | Chile Vamos | RN | Deputy of former District 50 | University of La Frontera | March 11, 2002 | March 11, 2026 |
| XI | Araucanía | | Francisco Huenchumilla | Out of pact | DC | Intendant of the Araucanía Region during Michelle Bachelet's presidency | University of Chile | March 11, 2018 | March 11, 2026 |
| XI | Araucanía | | Jaime Quintana | Democratic Socialism | PPD | Deputy of former District 49 | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
University of La Frontera | March 11, 2010 | March 11, 2026 |
| XII | Los Ríos | | Alfonso de Urresti | Democratic Socialism | PS | Deputy of former District 53 (El Ranco province) | University of Chile | March 11, 2014 | March 11, 2030 |
| XII | Los Ríos | | María José Gatica | Chile Vamos | RN | Provincial Governor of Valdivia during Sebastián Piñera's presidency | Austral University of Chile | March 11, 2022 | March 11, 2030 |
| XII | Los Ríos | | Iván Flores | Out of pact | DC | Deputy of District 24 (Los Ríos Region) | Austral University of Chile | March 11, 2022 | March 11, 2030 |
| XIII | Los Lagos | | Iván Moreira | Chile Vamos | UDI | Deputy of former District 27 | Luis Alberto Barrera High School, Punta Arenas | March 11, 2014 | March 11, 2030 |
| XIII | | | | Democratic Socialism | | Deputy of District 25 (Los Lagos Region) | | March 11, 2022 | March 11, 2030 |
| XIII | Los Lagos | | Carlos Kuschel | Chile Vamos | RN | Deputy of District 26 (Los Lagos Region) | Austral University of Chile | March 11, 2022 | March 11, 2030 |
| XIV | | | | | | Deputy of former District 59 (Aysén Region) | | March 11, 2018 | March 11, 2026 |
| XIV | | | | Democratic Socialism | | Intendant of the Aysén Region during Michelle Bachelet's presidency | | March 11, 2018 | March 11, 2026 |
| XV | | | | Out of pact | Independent | Deputy of District 28 (Magallanes Region) | | March 11, 2022 | March 11, 2030 |
| XV | | | | Chile Vamos | | President of the Regional Council of Magallanes (2019-2021) | Technical State University of Chile | March 11, 2022 | March 11, 2030 | |
See also
External links
